Everyday Spirituality

Getting Back Up On Our Feet

The Smithsonian Magazine ran an article in its September issue titled, A+ for Finland, discussing Finland’s extraordinary achievement in education. A little background reveals, for hundreds of years, the Finns were stuck living between the two rival powers of the Swedish monarchy and the Russian czar. As far as the children’s education, they generally attended school for 6 years and only the privileged or lucky got a quality higher education (not a promising future).

Article author, Lynnell Hancock reported, “The landscape changed when Finland began trying to remold its bloody, fractured past into a unified future.” Getting back up on their feet however was not an easy task. After declaring their independence in 1917, Finland was plunged into a civil war, “leaving the country scared by bitter divisions and a punishing debt.” But, the country got back on its feet and has designed and implemented a stellar educational program which overshadows the United States.

Whether it is a single person, a country, or a religion, the principle of getting back on our feet to stand for an exceptional ideal is valid. Moreover, we can look before we walk to make sure we don’t trip up. But, everyone has the right and ability to pick themselves up and feel their uprightness and worth.

From Science and Health, “Citizens of the world, accept the “glorious freedom of the children of God,” and be free! This is your divine right. The self-deluded temporal perceptions, not divine law, has captivated you, made you arthritic, made you a procrastinator, weakened your body, and ruined your reputation.

“We must begin however, with the more simple demonstrations of control, and the sooner we begin the better. The final demonstration takes time for its accomplishment. When walking, we are guided by the eye. We look before our feet, and if we are wise, we look beyond a single step in the line of spiritual advancement.”

I don’t think it’s helpful to speculate about divine rights. We have the capacity to choose our actions and shape how we approach things. Clouding the issue with guesswork may seem easier but it does not serve us.

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